Once we were pitmen

Documentary Feature | 2020-2023 | Daily Life, Docu, Economy, Portrait, Society | Germany, Switzerland

Main data

Director	Jonas Matauschek, Christian Johannes Koch
Written by	Jonas Matauschek, Christian Johannes Koch
Production	Elemag Pictures GmbH [de], Catpics, SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (ehem. SF Schweizer Fernsehen) [ch], ZDF - Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen
Distributor	Filmperlen - Filmverleih + Filmagentur [de]

Shooting data

Start of shooting	03/12/2020
End of shooting	05/11/2021
Locations	Niedersachsen, NRW

Project data

Film financing	BKM [de] - production funding: 125.000 EUR (12/2019) German Federal Film Board (DFFF) [de] - production funding: 73.812,95 EUR Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung [de] - distribution funding (theatrical): 20.000 EUR (07/2023) Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung [de] - new talent funding: 95.000 EUR (01/2020) Bundesamt für Kultur [ch]: 140.000 CHF (06/2020)
Length of movie	1h 43min

Trailers/Videos

German trailer

Posters

Brief synopsis

In times of society conflicts around clima change and gender identities, several men and one woman embark on a tragic and humorous journey to begin a new chapter in their lives, triggered by the closure of the last German coal mine.

(Berlinale Talents)

Crew

Activity	Name	Comment
Postproduction producer	Torsten Giewat Inhouse Producer Post Republic (Picture)	Inhouse Producer Post Republic (Picture)
Title designer	Felix Brokbals
Colorist	Alexander Beyer
Director of photography	Sebastian Klatt
Director	Christian Johannes Koch
Director	Jonas Matauschek
Editor	Natali Barrey The film was directed by Christian Johannes Koch and Jonas Matauschek	The film was directed by Christian Johannes Koch and Jonas Matauschek
Editor	Annette Brütsch
Composer	Alexandre J. Maurer
Producer	Tanja Georgieva-Waldhauer
Producer	Rajko Jazbec
Assistant production manager	Selina Sadler
Assistant production manager	Eva Hahn
Screenwriter	Christian Johannes Koch
Screenwriter	Jonas Matauschek

Production companies

Company	Comment
Elemag Pictures GmbH [de]
Catpics als CognitoFilms	als CognitoFilms
SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (ehem. SF Schweizer Fernsehen) [ch]
ZDF - Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen

Distribution / Sales companies

Company	Comment
Filmperlen - Filmverleih + Filmagentur [de] Germany (theatrical)	Germany (theatrical)

Facilities

Department	Company	Comment
Animals for Film	FilmTier Zentrale wolf	wolf
Film Processing/Transfers	MMZ Mitteldeutsches Multimediazentrum Halle (Saale) GmbH 4k Grading Studio	4k Grading Studio

Awards

Award winner	Year	Award	Category
Christian Johannes Koch	2024	Solothurner Filmtage [ch] Visioni	Visioni	Nominated
Christian Johannes Koch	2023	Dok.fest München [de] DOK.deutsch	DOK.deutsch	Nominated
Jonas Matauschek	2023	Dok.fest München [de] DOK.deutsch	DOK.deutsch	Nominated
Jonas Matauschek	2021	Berlin Int. Film Festival [de] Kompagnon-Förderpreis	Kompagnon-Förderpreis	Winner

Festivals

Year	Country	Festival
2024	Switzerland	Solothurner Filmtage
2023	Germany	DOK.fest München
2023	Germany	Filmkunstmesse Leipzig

Cinema releases and premieres

Type	Country	Date	Comment
Theatre release	Germany	Thursday, 29/02/2024
Premiere		Thursday, 04/05/2023	DOK.Fest München

Crew United